Fired Department of Child Safety director Charles Flanagan defended himself against allegations his process of getting through a backlog of cases was dangerous to abused children, and said he’s speaking out for the first time since his firing to defend the record of his administration and DCS employees who have been smeared by recent news reports based on allegations from Greg McKay, the newly appointed director of the agency.

Salt River Project’s board of directors approved a rate hike Thursday that would add a solar demand charge of about $50 on average and a 3.9 percent increase for all SRP users, ending a three-month process of public meetings and solar industry outcry.

The new leader of Arizona’s child protection agency has eliminated the internal unit that investigated him and other employees for unsubstantiated workplace infractions, but said the move wasn’t retaliatory.